The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday rearrested a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde. This was disclosed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, adding that Ojerinde was rearrested following a warrant of arrest issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to her, the former Registrar is expected to answer further questions as a result of new evidence uncovered by ICPC operatives in regard to his 18-count charge on alleged diversion and misappropriation of N5.2 billion in funds while in office.
Ogugua said, “ICPC operatives uncovered two (2) accounts opened in the names of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International Schools Ltd into which funds were diverted using fictitious names of students.
“The Commission had on December 12, 2022, invited the former JAMB Registrar for questioning over the new evidence but he wrote through his solicitor requesting 14 days’ grace to enable him to honour the invitation. Ojerinde, however, refused to honour the invitation as undertaken by his counsel after the expiration of the 14 days grace on December 27, 2022.
“In the course of its ongoing investigation, the Commission unearthed new evidence that suggests that Ojerinde is the sole signatory to various bank accounts operated in the name of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International School Ltd.
“Ojerinde reportedly operated those accounts using false identities and forged documents in the names of Joshua Olakulehin Olaniran and Akanbi Lamidi, respectively. He also reportedly used another false identity, Adeniyi Banji to operate a separate account in the name of Standout Institutes Ltd.”
She further said the chequebooks of the companies’ accounts were recovered from Ojerinde, adding that if the new evidence is confirmed, he would be tried before a court of competent jurisdiction for offences bordering on money laundering, forgery of documents, a stolen identity and concealment of gratification.
According to her, “He committed the offences while serving as heads of two (2) government agencies, the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.
“He had allegedly conferred corrupt advantages upon himself at different times while being Head of JAMB and NECO, thereby violating Sections 19, 24, 25 (1)(a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Section 1 (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.”